Ineffective business communication can negatively affect your small business' financial standing, worker morale and the confidence clients have in your company. Even one inaccurate piece of information or unconstructive exchange shared between your company and another party can put your entire business in a compromising situation. To combat this problem, implement a few key rules and tools to avoid ineffective business communication.

1. Install call recording software on all business phones. Inform your employees of this change. Review the tapes at regular intervals to assess employee skill at external communication. Also, ask employees to copy you into all emails so you can monitor written communication. Hold accountable any employees guilty of ineffective communication. Call customers to clarify issues as necessary. This will avoid possible future repercussions.

2. Provide scripts to new employees if your business is largely based on phone or in-person sales. Ask them to memorize and stick to the script at least for the first few months, until they have mastered your product line. Once you observe them communicating effectively, you can trust them to "freestyle" more on sales calls.

3. Get every contract or agreement in writing immediately, even if you know and trust the other party. Do not rely on the handshake method, because one of you could forget terms discussed only verbally, leading to a deal-killing disagreement.

4. Simplify the wording of all of your marketing materials and other written communication tools. You want clients, colleagues and employees to clearly understand the concepts. Sometimes a business owner can make the mistake of using complicated technical terminology and jargon to describe processes and initiatives, thus confusing stakeholders and customers. Provide an outline for readers before fully exploring the topic. This will further help them comprehend the the plan or concept you are expressing. Tighten the copy to make it even more readable.

5. Survey both employees and customers to assess your own communication effectiveness. Perhaps you are not conveying your points as well as you think. Take a training seminar on business communication, thereby demonstrating you are also receptive to change.

Things Needed

Call recording software

Sales scripts

Tip

Do not attempt any type of business communication when angry or upset.

About the Author

Louise Balle has been writing Web articles since 2004, covering everything from business promotion to topics on beauty. Her work can be found on various websites. She has a small-business background and experience as a layout and graphics designer for Web and book projects.